FAQs for Capital Campaign. Status August 30, 2006
Overall project
How was the site selected?
A task force created by the Steering Committee investigated a number of sites with the assistance of a real estate professional. As a result, we have an option on 35 acres along Epps Bridge Parkway in Clarke County, adjacent to the Oconee County border. The task force chose this site in the belief that it best meets the current and long-range future needs of the St. Joseph Community. The task force’s criteria included finding a strategic location for current needs and future growth of the parish and school; budget considerations; a location that would serve both Clarke and Oconee counties conveniently; and finding a tract of land that would be large enough to ensure that we could control further development of property around the church and school. The land will only be purchased when a complete evaluation of its suitability is finished, and when we have obtained appropriate approvals from Clarke and Oconee County Commissions.
What is the scope of the whole project?
Due to a better definition of current and future needs and very significant increase in construction costs, the overall cost of this project is significantly larger than previous estimates. Our best current estimates place the total cost at $27-30 million in 2006 dollars. Many factors are likely to affect this in the future.
Why is the cost estimate for the project now so much higher than two years ago?
Building costs have skyrocketed in recent months for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the tremendous increase in fuel costs. That increase impacts manufacturing and transportation costs associated with the raw materials, not to mention the construction effort itself.
The cost estimate of $27-30 million is roughly five times more than the estimate given to rebuild on the current site. Why don’t we just stay on Prince Avenue?
Inflation and other factors have affected every number parishioners considered two years ago – not just the cost of relocating and building a new campus. In fact, it’s reasonable to speculate that the cost of rebuilding on our current site will be even higher, as a percentage of the figures reported two years ago, because of the constraints the current campus presents. Given the scope of the project, which includes a church, school, athletic fields, a multi-purpose building, parish center and rectory, it does not appear possible to meet the future needs of the St. Joseph Community by rebuilding on our Prince Avenue campus.
How are we ever going to pay for such a costly project?
We’ll use more than one phase of fundraising, just as we’ll use more than one phase of development. And it’s important to note that, while construction costs have gone way up, the value of our Prince Avenue property continues to increase. One major reason for taking the approach we are is to begin building our future on the new campus while holding on to our current property. We will do everything possible to maximize the sale price of the Prince Avenue Campus, when that time comes.
How can we possibly afford a project of this magnitude?
The whole project will be undertaken in successive phases. To begin with, we have to establish the foundations. The order and the speed of the different phases will depend on many factors: our continued fundraising ability, the value of our existing property at the time it gets sold, and other sources of funding. While this project may seem very ambitious, we should take some comfort in knowing that it serves our increasing needs and that we are not alone in this. Many other parishes around the country and several in our own diocese have similar projects.
How will the Foundation Phase project unfold?
In the coming months, the parish should obtain a Special Land Use Permit from Athens-Clarke County for the site. We then will purchase the 35 acres now under contract and prepare the site for construction. A multi-use building is planned for the property along with athletic fields. An existing house on the property will be renovated and used as a rectory for our priests. As soon as the multi-use building is completed, it is expected to be used for athletic events, meetings and, perhaps, a Mass or two each week. Construction will begin after we have the financial results of the pledge drive.
Why build a multi-use center first?
Early in the planning process, parishioners, school faculty, staff and parents expressed the need for a multi-use building. Based on the detailed needs assessment, parish offertory, the amount of money we may borrow and the amount of capital we anticipate from the campaign, we can prepare the site, build roads, infrastructure, athletic fields and a multi-use building in this Foundation Phase.
What will happen first?
The Capital Campaign. Parishioners are being invited to a series of receptions in the coming weeks, during which an overall plan for the site will be shown and discussed. The overall plan includes a church, school and parish center in later stages of the development.
How long will this take?
The pace of construction will determine this, but it is reasonable to believe it will take up to two years to complete the first stage. The number of steps in the project will depend on the amount of money we are able to raise in the Pledge Drive.
Who will design the new site?
The firm of Hussey, Gay, Bell, and De Young of Gainesville has been retained.
What will the new church look like? How big will it be?
All the facilities will be designed around the detailed needs assessment that has been performed over the past 2 years with updates obtained from interviews with the current staff of the Parish and School. The Sanctuary is designed to seat up to 1000 people. While a first set of plans and elevations has been developed for the needs of permitting, it will be several years before we completely finalize the design. The final plans will depend on the monies generated from the Capital Campaign and from the sale of the existing campus on Prince Avenue. Parishioners will be involved in the decision-making process throughout this process, as has been the case for the past 2+ years.
What about the new school?
Preliminary plans for a new school also have been developed, and representatives from the school are being included in all decisions related to the construction project. The plans will depend on the monies generated from the Capital Campaign and the future sale of the existing property. School staff and families will be involved in the decision-making process, as has been the case for the past 2+ years.
What other facilities will be available?
A multi-use building (with meeting rooms, a gym and a parish center) and a soccer field. The plan will address as much as possible all the needs expressed.
The Capital Campaign
When will we start?
The campaign is underway. Pledges will be sought in the coming weeks. Parishioners will be invited to receptions to hear details of the campaign and discuss the plan. We will be asked to prayerfully reflect on the level of support to which we can commit. The campaign will end before Thanksgiving.
What is the expected level of giving?
We would like to see 100% participation in the campaign by the parish, with each parish member and family as well as school families prayerfully considering a sacrificial commitment of as much as they are able to give. All gifts will be welcome whether large or small because regardless of size, all are important to the overall success of the campaign. We respectfully ask each parishioner to deeply reflect on the importance of this endeavor to the Saint Joseph community, now and well into the future, as they determine their level of giving, and how they can best support it. We are asked to return in time, treasure and talent to the best of our abilities. We are only giving in return a small part of God’s blessings that we have received.
How will I pay? Over what period?
For most donors, pledges will be redeemed over a three-year period. Other options will be available, however, for those who wish to fulfill their pledge in other ways. Payment options will include monthly, quarterly, annually, lump sum, or other schedule as necessary. We expect have the ability to accept credit cards and debit-card payments, as well as checks and cash payments. We will have advisers available to assist those parish members who may choose to donate stocks and other financial securities to St. Joseph.
How will the Capital Campaign be conducted?
Our campaign will be coordinated by Guidance in Giving, professional specialized consultants. We have a campaign director from their organization who will help guide and coordinate the efforts of the many volunteers who will be required to conduct the campaign. The campaign will consist of personal meetings and group receptions. Many of the receptions will be held in homes. Our goal is to communicate with all parishioners and school families on a level that is most comfortable for them.
Why are we using a consultant for the Capital Campaign?
We chose to hire a fund raising consultant company to take advantage of its extensive experience and success in running capital campaigns. We feel very strongly that this campaign is critical to the future of the parish and school and that professional guidance will provide a better foundation for a successful drive. Based on this determination, we interviewed a number of parishes in the Archdiocese and verified that many of the campaigns that did achieve their goals did use a consultant in their effort. Guidance in Giving rose to the top of the fund raising companies interviewed. They specialize in fund/capital campaigns for Catholic churches and have a long track record of success across the country.
How did we choose GIG?
We chose GIG through an interview process in which two finalists were selected and asked to submit proposals. The Capital Campaign Committee reviewed the proposals and submitted its recommendation to the Steering Committee, Father David and the Archdiocese. The recommendation of GIG was approved and GIG was engaged and a contract signed for the Planning Phase and, later, for the Pledge Drive.
How will you ask for my pledge?
From September through November, a number of opportunities will be presented for parish and school members to get information about the campaign and to complete pledge cards. Receptions and other events will be held; pledge information will be available at masses; and mailings will be sent with information on how to pledge.
How will I make my pledge?
You will complete a pledge card and submit it to a designated location, where it will be confidentially reviewed and entered into the campaign database.
Can I designate X% of my pledge for construction of the multi-use center and Y% for later development?
Absolutely. Your pledge will be graciously accepted, and your intentions will be honored.
Can my pledge be paid off by a bequest in my will?
Yes. We will have advisers available to assist in this. Please note, however, that the cash requirements of the construction project will be near term; and while a bequest in a will can certainly be accepted, the need for funds will most likely precede the bequest.
Will my contribution remain confidential?
Definitely. While it is necessary for processing purposes for a small select group of individuals to see what was pledged (mostly the same who see the weekly offertory), this group will be very small and above reproach. We will keep your pledge as strictly confidential as your offertory.
How will my contribution be recognized?
We will always respect the wish of any donor to keep his or her name confidential. Recognition, however, is an important part of showing the breadth of the community involvement in this project (for this generation and the next one). We are currently evaluating different ways of doing this, including naming opportunities (for buildings or rooms or other equipment) and plaques. We will make these proposals when we progress in our Pledge Drive. In the meantime, the Capital Campaign will be a good time to let us know if you have any preference for recognition.
The overall budget is estimated at approximately $27-30 million in 2006 dollars. To raise this significant amount, we will use a combination of successive Capital Campaign Drives; the eventual sale of our Prince Avenue campus; other sources of financing being explored; and, finally, debt – after careful consideration of our ability to service the debt. We will continue to develop our budget, and we will ultimately be guided by the success of the Capital Campaign and the funds generated from the sale of the existing property. We will determine the ultimate cost of the project based on what the parish and school need. If the pledge drive and sale of existing property fail to generate enough money to secure the needs of the parish and school, taking on debt will be strongly considered. Subsequent Capital Campaigns will then be necessary. This is not an uncommon situation in many parishes.
We believe that the parish and school will be able to raise conservatively $3,000,000.00.
It is impossible to know with certainty because much will depend on the timing of the sale. We will not actively pursue the sale of the Prince Avenue campus until it is absolutely necessary because it is an extremely valuable asset and will continue to appreciate in value. At the appropriate time, we will market the property strongly and make every effort to sell the property at its true market value. As a result, we hope to pay for a significant portion of the development/construction that remains when we sell.
The Archdiocese must approve all of our plans and will provide any assistance we need for financing, construction, legal, or any other need we may have. The Archdiocese remains the legal owner of the lands and buildings. It is also providing the professional project management that such an endeavor requires.
The Steering Committee has appointed an Architectural Task force to develop plans for the church and school. We welcome and strongly encourage participation in this group or in any group working on this project. In keeping with the process conducted to date, all plans will be presented to the entire St. Joseph Community as well as the staff and time allocated for input. We will present and discuss the current state of the project during the receptions of the Capital Campaign.
What features of the present church will be incorporated into the new church (stained glass windows, etc.)?
The Architectural Task Force will take all of these types of existing elements into account and make appropriate recommendations to the Steering Committee, which will communicate with the parish and school.
The property will be developed in order to accommodate the children and their academic and school year timing needs. The school is an integral part of the parish and will be included in both the planning of the new parish campus as well as the fund raising. Sale of the existing church and school property will provide significant funds to build a new church and school, so a great deal of coordination will be required between the church and school in the new construction. However, every effort will be made to accommodate the needs of both in the transition.
The current site
We will continue to use the Prince Avenue campus for a few years, and we’ll ultimately sell it at fair market price to provide funds for the new church and school. In doing so, we remain conscientious of our responsibilities to the Athens Community and the neighborhood in which we have spent so many years.
It is impossible to anticipate this. The Steering Committee will make every effort to keep our Prince Avenue neighbors informed.
We anticipate using the current church and school for the foreseeable future. At the time the property is sold, the church will be properly decommissioned.
The Steering Committee continues to work closely with the Capital Campaign Committee and the Communications Committee. We remain committed to keeping the entire St. Joseph Community informed of events surrounding the entire undertaking, and to preparing and distributing accurate information to the Athens community at large.